Also, center Larry Wilkins, who sat out last year with an injury, has returned to form.

“So, we're excited,” Thompson said. “We're a lot bigger than we have been in the past. Last year, after losing Larry, our rebounding kind of suffered and was one of our weaknesses, and this year I think it'll be one of our strengths.”

Wilkins, a burly 6-foot-4, 250-pound senior from Madison, received a sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA after tearing his Achilles last summer preparing for a tour of Australia.

A starter on UTSA's 2011 NCAA tournament team, Wilkins is expected to solidify the front line for the Roadrunners as they move into a new era of competition in the Western Athletic Conference.

“I definitely want to help this team as much as I can,” Wilkins said. “Now I'm just glad to be back out there. I feel good. But I have a lot of things to work on.”

UTSA starts the season today against Morgan State in Norfolk, Va., in the three-day Liberty Tax Classic.

Hale said an 18-14 record and an early exit from the Southland Conference tournament last year are relics of the past.

“You can't forget about it, but this is a new season and we're moving forward,” he said.

The spunky playmaker from Federal Way, Wash., insisted the Roadrunners can compete during a tough early stretch of nine away games in the first 10 on their schedule.

“Anybody who steps on the court with us, they'll have to compete,” Hale said. “We're not the biggest team. We're not the most athletic team. But we're going to play hard.”

A starting lineup for the opening weekend likely will include Hale at the point and Burrage at shooting guard, with Wilkins, power forward Hill and wing Jordan Sims on the front line.

Coming off the bench are promising redshirt freshman point guard A.J. Price and energetic small forward Hyjii Thomas.

Edrico McGregor and Tyler Wood are expected to back up in the paint.

Freshman small forward Phillip Jones, billed as the best pure athlete Thompson has recruited to UTSA, still is learning the system and hasn't broken into the rotation yet.